pitchfork - Posted - 08/23/2015:  02:28:43

Hi folks,

I am new here, but hopefully this is the correct subforum to ask this.

I recently tried a couple of B&D Silver Bell tenors and was very impressed. I've been trying to find online articles on the history of these banjos, discussing the various model numbers and name eg Montana, Senorita etc. I have found some great photos and very interesting short pieces on individual banjos but have found it hard to locate a more in depth article.

Would anyone be able to point me in the direction of a good overview?

 Thanks in advance. 

Regards - Chris

pitchfork - Posted - 08/23/2015:  02:31:25

Apologies about the large paragraph breaks. I had some issues with my tablet.

beezaboy - Posted - 08/23/2015:  03:31:58

Use the Banjohangout archives in the search box in the upper right hand corner of this web page.  You will find many threads discussing Bacon/B&D Banjos.

There is also a B&D group here on hangout with more information.

banjohangout.org/group/baconandday

Offhand I cannot recall seeing a single article that discusses the pros and cons of the various models and styles of B&D banjos.

Edited by - beezaboy on 08/23/2015 03:34:19

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 08/23/2015:  03:32:54

Chris,

I´m regarded a/the world leading expert regarding these banjos - many players, collectors, museums etc. have often asked me to write a book about the company and its banjos - but this will be too hard for me - being a non-anglo - LOL!

For a start - have a look at my general database as published at the net - acoustudio.dk/BD_and_Bacon_database.html - I do also keep an extended database with a lot of details plus a pics archive - however both far too large to be published at the net.

Many articles have been written in the past - however none of these do contain the full story - plus most of them do contain factual mistakes to a certain degree.

I do keep most of these in my archive - I´ll go over this - maybe one or two of the articles/papers will be of interest for you.

Till then - feel free asking me about any topics/issues on your mind.

Polle

​Here´s my living room display earlier this year (plenty more B&D banjos were staying in my workshop up-stairs - plus a few in my bank vault) - some very interesting B&D/Bacon´s are present at the picture.

Edited by - Polle Flaunoe on 08/23/2015 03:44:17

pgroff - Posted - 08/23/2015:  06:23:59

Great photo Polle!

Chris, you've come to the right place. I love B & D banjos too & have learned a lot here.

PG

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 08/23/2015:  08:48:52

John Hoft - aka "beezaboy" posting above - is the man capable of writing "The Big Bacon/B&D Book" - he´s a fantastic researcher and author - I´ve in the past really enjoyed reading the banjo related articles and papers published by him - all with great overviews - and all absolutely without any "cloudy spots" for me or others to point a finger at.

He does already know a lot about Bacon/B&D - I and maybe a few others could most likely give him most of the remaining infos/stuff needed - but a possible co-work regarding this book would most likely last for years - it´s due to personal circumstances sadly not possible for me to take part in this.

So - if any of you have some specific questions related to Bacon/B&D - do come up with these at this forum - now! - I´ll do the best I can answering them - maybe later John or another skilled writer can put all related threads and postings into a context and finally write the the long wanted "Big Book".

Polle

pitchfork - Posted - 08/23/2015:  10:48:44

Thanks everyone for your replies.

chris

banjowilly22 - Posted - 08/23/2015:  11:44:21

Hi Chris and welcome to the BHO.

There is an excellent several page article on B&D. banjos, by John Hoft, in the current AllFrets magazine.

Drop me an email, as I have some info as well, collected over the last 45 Years

Cheers- Keith

Gordy Ohliger - Posted - 08/23/2015:  12:26:28

Howdy Chris ~ I agree that this is the group to be with, as regards the B&D's. 

 Please ask any questions and share your concerns. These fellas know their stuff.

NYCJazz - Posted - 08/23/2015:  12:50:43

I'm a diehard B&D fan... I was a student of B&D endorser Roy Smeck. I made a pilgrimage to the Bacon factory in Groton (about halfway between New York City and Boston) and got these photos:









Here's the same spot in 1923 with the Bacon staff:

pitchfork - Posted - 08/23/2015:  13:19:09

Hi,

OK I'm still trying to get a feel for what both the model numbers and the names attached to Silver Bells actually mean.

Looking over Polle's excellent database it looks like the model numbers represent design variants which are produced over time (still no idea just how they vary though:-)) but the earlier designs are still produced after later models appear. But presumably there is some core difference between models.

Which leaves me wondering just how the models differ. Whether particular models are valued over others by certain criteria. And how unchanged were e.g. model 1s from first appearance t late 1930s.

The names though are quite puzzling. Montanas appear early and dominate "named" Silver Bells until the later 1920s when the various "S" s start to appear (Symphonies, Sultanas, Senoritas and Serenaders). But confusingly the names appear to cross model numbers (there may be patterns of name distribution but they don't look to be exclusively assigned to particular model numbers).

Would it be right to infer that the various names are associated primarily with particular decorative schemes which were applied to a range of different basic banjo designs (model numbers)?

Regards - Chris
PS lots of new posts in the time it took me to type this! (I'm finding it easier to type in another program and paste to the message board). Great photos Nathan, and will drop you an email Keith. Thanks again to everyone.

Gordy Ohliger - Posted - 08/23/2015:  14:55:12

Nathan ~ A Hah! So you're the fellow that posted those photos of the shop! THANK YOU! That's just the sort of thing I love.

Am looking for detailed info here later. Polle's the guy for it.